RARELY has a player needed a good performance like Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain needed one last night at Wembley.

Gareth Southgate refused to be drawn on who exactly he was talking about when he admitted in the build up to this World Cup qualifier with Slovenia that he had been forced to pick players who did not deserve their places based on their performances so far this season.

It may seem harsh, but Oxlade-Chamberlain’s name was one that immediately floated into the mind at those comments by the England manager because so far this has been a thoroughly wretched season for the 24 year old.

Sadly, it did not get any better last night. In fact, at times it was almost painful to watch at Wembley – as a player clearly woefully lacking in confidence and match practise, simply floundered.

Discarded, albeit expensively, by Arsenal on transfer deadline day to the tune of £35 million to Liverpool, pretty much nothing has gone right since. This provided no relief. Oxlade-Chamberlain is yet to begin a Premier League game for Liverpool, his only start so far a dismal Carabao Cup defeat at Leicester.

In fact, with Dele Alli suspended and Daniel Sturridge injured for last night, Southgate had few real options on the right, with the only other candidate, Manchester United’s Jesse Lingard, also currently yet to start a Premier League game for his club this season.

Oxlade-Chamberlain chose Liverpool on deadline day after rejecting a move to Chelsea, apparently not fancying the wing-back role that Stamford Bridge manager Antonio Conte had marked him down for there. Liverpool have since won one of the six games he has been involved in, and the Anfield fans, it would be fair to say, are yet to be convinced.

England player ratings against Slovenia

Thu, October 5, 2017

Express Sport rates how the England players performed during their World Cup qualifier against Slovenia at Wembley

How did England perform during their World Cup qualifier against Slovenia?

Nor are England’s. But Southgate has shown consistent faith in Oxlade-Chamberlain – in much the same way that the England manager has stayed loyal to goalkeeper Joe Hart, when others might have opted for younger models, after an undistinguished Euro 2016.

The Liverpool man has started four of England’s last five games and was a substitute in the other, the 2-2 draw with Scotland in Glasgow in May.

Oxlade-Chamberlain had not distinguished himself in England’s last two games, in Malta and at home to Slovakia. But there he was last night, on the right of the three players backing up Harry Kane. And, as he won his 30th cap for his country, there was no doubt that it was a moment when he needed to kick-start his season into life, because boy, did it need kick-starting.

For Southgate, Oxlade-Chamberlain has become the go-to player on the right. Once again, it was hard to fathom exactly why.

There was one early surge into the area, and then a good turn and pass to Marcus Rashford. But then Oxlade-Chamberlain simply disappeared into the morass of mundanity that was this game for too many long periods.

Most of what danger there was from England was coming down the other flank, with Rashford by far their liveliest performer.

GETTY

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain didn't have his best night in an England shirt

On the other flank, Oxlade-Chamberlain chased, and ran, and tracked back and the game simply passed him by.

There is no question that England need an effective performer on the right to balance Rashford’s verve on the other flank. Perhaps if Sturridge eventually finds some fitness that might be the answer, or maybe Adam Lallana.

Right now, sad to day, the answer is not Oxlade-Chamberlain - unless the former Southampton whizz-kid can get himself into Jurgen Klopp’s team and find some kind of form. There is only so much faith that a coach like Southgate can have in a player. Time is running out for the Liverpool man.

He will likely be on the plane to Russia, simply because Southgate has so few options. But right now a starting place is slipping slowly through Oxlade-Chamberlain’s fingers.

The agony ended after an hour, as Southgate ran out of patience and threw Lingard on. Oxlade-Chamberlain kicked a water bottle in frustration as he trudged miserably off. A season of despair had just hit a new low.

There are few sadder sights than a player totally out of touch and bereft of confidence. But that is Oxlade-Chamberlain right now.